The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has approved new requirements that will affect all South Africa broadcasters, ISP’s and websites operating within the .zaDNA top-level domain.
According to the Goverment Gazette, that was released on the 26th of March 2020, these rules are to help facilitate the availability and use of digital technologies to combat the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.
These requirements includes a section which deals with the dissemination of information, which includes:
“DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION:
- Class and Individual Broadcasting Service Licensees are required to receive and disseminate public information related to the national effort to combat the spread of COVID -19 in all local languages including sign language;
- All Electronic Communications Service Licensees and Electronic Communications Network Service Licensees with access to the radio frequency spectrum are required to make available their platforms for the streaming of public announcements to their customers or subscribers;
- Electronic Communications Services Licensees, OTTs and ISPs that provide linear and non-linear services bears the responsibility to remove fake news related to COVID -19 from their platforms immediately after identified as such;
- All Internet sites operating within .zaDNA top level domain name must have a landing page with a visible link to www.sacoronavirus.co.za.”
To view the full Government Gazette please download it here.
To find out more about Governments’ response to COVID-19 please visit SACORONAVIRUS.CO.ZA